PREA Strategy for Delaware

The Protecting Inmates and Safeguarding Communities Discretionary Grant Program was created as a result of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (the Act), Public Law 108-79. The goal of the Act is to eradicate sexual assaults in all of the correctional facilities in this country, be they federal, state, or local in nature. Nevertheless, the statutory focus for this grant program is state and local correctional facilities. This program is divided into two parts: (1) Protecting Inmates and (2) Safeguarding Communities. The Protecting Inmates part focuses on providing funding to state and local agencies for the costs of personnel, training, technical assistance, and data collection in the areas of prevention, investigation, prosecution, and treatment of victims of inmate on inmate sexual assault in a correctional facility. The Safeguarding Communities component of the program focuses on assisting the states in developing and implementing strategies when making release decisions for sexual aggressors without compromising public safety and addressing the needs of the victims after release.

The Delaware Department of Correction (DDC) will use the funds for the following: create safer communities and institutions; decrease public health issues regarding infectious diseases; decrease sexual violence; and prevent new victimization and re-victimization. In addition, DDC will use the funds to protect inmates from sexual assault by enhancing prevention and detection through training; increase reporting; strengthen the investigative and prosecution process; and providing services and treatment for inmate and staff victims and perpetrators.

CA/NCF